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The day of celebration for the NHS is seeing scores of buildings across the country - from the Eden Project in Cornwall to the Houses of Parliament - lit up in the NHS's trademark blue in a nod to the much-loved service.

Thousands of Big 7Tea events are also taking place to thank staff and raise awareness of NHS charities, while services will take place at Westminster Abbey and York Minster to pay tribute to NHS staff and patients.

Events will also be held in Manchester - where the health service was launched seven decades ago to the day.

Speaking at the NHS70 Parliamentary Awards, an event honouring local health heroes from across England, on Wednesday, Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "We were the sixth in the world to set a universal healthcare system and we have come to symbolise those values that say that here in Britain, everyone matters."

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He added: "It doesn't matter who you are, rich or young or city or countryside, you should be confident that you can access good healthcare.

"In poll after poll, if you ask British people what makes them most proud to be British, they say it is the NHS ahead of any of our other national institutions.

"That is only possible because of the utterly extraordinary dedication of our staff."

And at an event on Wednesday to mark the anniversary in Downing Street, Prime Minister Theresa May also hailed the "dedication" of NHS staff.

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